kids encyclopedia robot

National Register of Historic Places listings in Reading, Massachusetts facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Reading, Massachusetts, is a town with a rich history! Many of its old buildings and areas are so special that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important places in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, making sure they can be enjoyed for many years to come.

What is the National Register of Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places (often called the NRHP) is like a special list of places in the United States that are important to history. These places could be buildings, neighborhoods, or even old objects. When a place is added to this list, it means it has a unique story or design that is worth saving.

It's not just about being old! To be on the NRHP, a place must meet certain rules. For example, it might be connected to important events, famous people, or show a special style of building. Being on the list helps people learn about the past and can sometimes help protect these places from being changed too much or torn down.

Exploring Historic Places in Reading

Reading, Massachusetts, has many buildings and even whole neighborhoods that are on the National Register. These places tell us about how people lived, worked, and built things a long time ago. Let's look at a few examples of these amazing historic spots!

Historic Buildings in Reading

  • Ace Art Company: This building at 24 Gould Street was listed in 1985. It's an example of an old company building that played a part in Reading's past.
  • Joseph Bancroft House: Located at 101 Lowell Street, this house is one of several Bancroft family homes on the list. It was added in 1984.
  • Boston and Maine Railroad Depot: Found on Lincoln Street, this old train station was listed in 1984. Train stations were very important for travel and trade in the past!
  • Highland School: This school building at 64 Middlesex Avenue was listed in 1984. It's cool because it now houses the Reading Public Library, so it's still a place for learning!
  • Octagon House: You can find this unique house at 97 Pleasant Street. It was built in a special eight-sided shape, which was a popular style for some homes long ago. It was added to the list in 1984.
  • Parker Tavern: This very old building at 103 Washington Street was listed way back in 1975. A "tavern" was like an inn or restaurant where travelers could stop for food and a place to rest.
  • Pearl Street School: Another historic school, this one at 75 Pearl Street, was listed in 1997. Old school buildings often have interesting designs and stories about the students who learned there.
  • Reading Municipal Building: This important town building at 49 Pleasant Street was listed in 1984. It's where many of the town's important decisions are made.
  • Reading Municipal Light and Power Station: Located at 226 Ash Street, this building was once a power station for the town. It was listed in 1984 and shows how Reading got its electricity in the past.

Historic Districts in Reading

Sometimes, it's not just one building that's important, but a whole area! These areas are called "historic districts." They have many old buildings that together tell a story about how a neighborhood grew.

  • Common Historic District: This district is roughly around Main, Highland, and Federal Streets. It was listed in 1985 and includes many important buildings that make up the heart of Reading.
  • Woburn Street Historic District: This district covers Woburn Street from Temple Street to Summer Avenue. It was also listed in 1985 and shows a collection of historic homes and buildings along this street.

These historic places help us remember and appreciate Reading's long and interesting past!

Images for kids

  • ReadingMA AceArtCompanyBuilding

    Ace Art Company

  • ReadingMA JosephBancroftHouse

    Joseph Bancroft House

  • Bancroft House 12-2015

    Samuel Bancroft House

  • Wendell Bancroft House, Reading MA

    Wendell Bancroft House

  • ReadingMA EdwinBassettHouse

    Edwin Bassett House

  • ReadingMA BatchelderHouse

    Batchelder House

  • ReadingMA AldenBatchelderHouse

    Alden Batchelder House

  • ReadingMA GeorgeBatchelderHouse

    George Batchelder House

  • ReadingMA NathanielBatchelderHouse

    Nathaniel Batchelder House

  • ReadingMA BattellHouse

    Battell House

  • ReadingMA BenjaminBeardHouse

    Benjamin Beard House

  • Reading Station MBTA Massachusetts

    Boston and Maine Railroad Depot

  • ReadingMA BowserGazebo

    Bowser Gazebo

  • ReadingMA BrackettHouse

    Brackett House

  • Brande House, Reading MA

    Brande House

  • ReadingMA FrancisBrooksHouse

    Francis Brooks House

  • ReadingMA CarrollHartshornHouse

    Carroll-Hartshorn House

  • Carter Mansion, Reading MA

    Carter Mansion

  • ReadingMA GilmanCogginHouse

    Gilman Coggin House

  • Old South United Methodist Church, Reading MA

    Common Historic District

  • ReadingMA AsaMCookHouse

    Asa M. Cook House

  • ReadingMA JosephDamonHouse

    Joseph Damon House

  • Washington Damon House, Reading MA

    Washington Damon House

  • ReadingMA DeweyPlace

    Dewey Place

  • Durgin House, Reading MA

    Durgin House

  • ReadingMA EatonPrescottHouse

    Eaton-Prescott House

  • ReadingMA LutherElliottHouse

    Luther Elliott House

  • ReadingMA SamuelFosterHouse

    Samuel Foster House

  • ReadingMA StephenHallHouse

    Stephen Hall House

  • Harnden-Browne House, Reading MA

    Harnden-Browne House

  • ReadingMA TimothyHartshornHouse

    Timothy Hartshorn House

  • ReadingMA HartwellHouse

    Hartwell House

  • ReadingMA HaverhillStreetMilestone

    Haverhill Street Milestone

  • Highland School, Reading MA

    Highland School

  • ReadingMA 11BeachStreet

    House at 11 Beach Street

  • ReadingMA 26CenterAvenue

    House at 26 Center Avenue

  • House at 322 Haven Street, Reading MA

    House at 322 Haven Street

  • ReadingMA 129HighStreet

    House at 129 High Street

  • ReadingMA 77HowardStreet

    House at 77 Howard Street

  • ReadingMA 1177MainStreet

    House at 1177 Main Street

  • House at 16 Mineral Street, Reading MA

    House at 16 Mineral Street

  • House at 42 Salem Street, Reading MA

    House at 42 Salem Street

  • House at 79-81 Salem Street, Reading MA

    House at 79-81 Salem Street

  • House at 199 Summer Avenue, Reading MA

    House at 199 Summer Avenue

  • ReadingMA 242SummerAvenue

    House at 242 Summer Avenue

  • ReadingMA 483SummerAvenue

    House at 483 Summer Avenue

  • ReadingMA 44TempleStreet

    House at 44 Temple Street

  • ReadingMA 206WestStreet

    House at 206 West Street

  • House at 57 Woburn Street, Reading MA

    House at 57 Woburn Street

  • Kemp Barn, Reading MA

    Kemp Barn

  • Kemp Place, Reading MA

    Kemp Place

  • ReadingMA LewisHouse

    Lewis House

  • ReadingMA CharlesManningHouse

    Charles Manning House

  • ReadingMA JacobManningHouse

    Jacob Manning House

  • Masonic Block, Reading MA

    Masonic Block

  • Daniel Nichols Homestead, Reading MA

    Daniel Nichols Homestead

  • ReadingMA JamesNicholsHouse

    James Nichols House

  • ReadingMA JerryNicholsTavern

    Jerry Nichols Tavern

  • ReadingMA RichardNicholsHouse

    Richard Nichols House

  • ReadingMA OctagonHouse

    Octagon House

  • ReadingMA OldHoseHouse

    Old Hose House

  • Parker House, Reading MA

    Parker House (Salem Street)

  • ReadingMA ParkerHouse HavenStreet

    Parker House (Haven Street)

  • Parker Tavern Reading MA

    Parker Tavern

  • ReadingMA CaptNathanielParkerRedHouse

    Capt. Nathaniel Parker Red House

  • ReadingMA JosephParkerHouse

    Joseph Parker House

  • ReadingMA SamuelParkerHouse

    Samuel Parker House

  • ReadingMA StillmanParkerHouse

    Stillman Parker House

  • ReadingMA WilliamParkerHouse

    William Parker House

  • ReadingMA PearlStreetSchool

    Pearl Street School

  • ReadingMA PierceHouse

    Pierce House

  • PierceOrganPipeFactory

    Pierce Organ Pipe Factory

  • ReadingMA PrattHouse

    Pratt House

  • ReadingMA StillmanPrattHouse

    Stillman Pratt House

  • Reading Municipal Building, Reading MA

    Reading Municipal Building

  • ReadingMA ReadingMunicipalLightAndPowerStation

    Reading Municipal Light and Power Station

  • ReadingStandpipe

    Reading Standpipe (Demolished)

  • ReadingMA RobertsHouse

    Roberts House

  • Rowhouses at 256-274 Haven Street, Reading MA

    Rowhouses at 256-274 Haven Street

  • ReadingMA RevPeterSanbornHouse

    Rev. Peter Sanborn House

  • Outbuilding at 273 Haverhill Street, Reading MA

    Smith Shoe Shop

  • ReadingMA ThomasSymondsHouse

    Thomas Symonds House

  • Joseph Temple House, Reading MA

    Joseph Temple House

  • Mark Temple House, Reading MA

    Mark Temple House

  • ReadingMA WalnutStreetSchool

    Walnut Street School

  • ReadingMA CharlesWellsHouse

    Charles Wells House

  • ReadingMA EphraimWestonHouse

    Ephraim Weston House

  • ReadingMA JabezWestonHouse

    Jabez Weston House

  • ReadingMA WisteriaLodge

    Wisteria Lodge

  • Corner of Woburn St and Summer Ave, Reading MA

    Woburn Street Historic District

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
National Register of Historic Places listings in Reading, Massachusetts Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.